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2020 LTS Keflavik news post draft: Difference between revisions
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Whats going on? Why are my wings so white??? | Whats going on? Why are my wings so white??? | ||
[[File:Fgfs-20210212203048-wiz2.jpg|thumb|Trying to escape]] | [[File:Fgfs-20210212203048-wiz2.jpg|thumb|Trying to escape]] | ||
Suddenly I had a really serious problem! Obviously the moisture above the water did create icing on my plane and I slowly lost airspeed. The Pitot tube was obviously frozen, and I supposed also that the static ports where frozen. So while trying to maintain altitude and regain speed I readjusted the motor to max power, which helped me to at least not drop into the water; and I pulled the alt-static port knob to regain static pressure, and some time after that the airspeed indicator (ASI), Altimeter and vertical-speed indicator (VSI) got back to | Suddenly I had a really serious problem! Obviously the moisture above the water did create icing on my plane and I slowly lost airspeed. The Pitot tube was obviously frozen, and I supposed also that the static ports where frozen. So while trying to maintain altitude and regain speed I readjusted the motor to max power, which helped me to at least not drop into the water; and I pulled the alt-static port knob to regain static pressure, and some time after that the airspeed indicator (ASI), Altimeter and vertical-speed indicator (VSI) got back to life. As I somewhat re-established control of the flight, I realized that I will probably not get enough lift to cross the ridges surrounding the lake. Weather data suggested that, at the lake, there should be some wind coming from 330, so I figured that I may try to use ridge lift at the southwest side. Luckily that worked and I was able to gain about 300 ft per minute, and I figured that I will get enough altitude to cross the lower ridges in the northeast. | ||
Then another problem: A routine check of the gauges revealed that my Cylinder Head Temperature (CHT) is over limits due to the air intake clogged with ice. I promptly reduced engine power and added lots of mixture in order to try to cool the cylinders down. That worked without engine failure... Phew! | Then another problem: A routine check of the gauges revealed that my Cylinder Head Temperature (CHT) is over limits due to the air intake clogged with ice. I promptly reduced engine power and added lots of mixture in order to try to cool the cylinders down. That worked without engine failure... Phew! | ||
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[[File:Fgfs-20210212204503-wiz3.jpg|thumb|Airfield in sight! Thank god!]] | [[File:Fgfs-20210212204503-wiz3.jpg|thumb|Airfield in sight! Thank god!]] | ||
From that moment on I just followed the valley down. Last time I noticed I was about 61 nautical | From that moment on I just followed the valley down. Last time I noticed I was about 61 nautical miles (NM) (70 miles or 113 km) away from the Klamath Falls VORTAC, but shortly before crossing the ridge the signal went unstable and ceased. | ||
I really needed the airport NOW. What did I know? I knew that the airfield is a grass strip and should be about 71 NM away from the VORTAC (thus about 10 NM from my position), and I flew about 80-90 knots (NM per hour), giving me roughly 5-8 minutes until I should be in the vicinity of the field. I also knew that I had wood everywhere, so I really need to take care not to get too close to the ground. I also knew the rough direction of the target since I tried to follow the radial closely until the point when the signal vanished - my conclusion was that the airfield must be somewhere in front of me, before the next far mountains, but nothing to see yet. | I really needed the airport NOW. What did I know? I knew that the airfield is a grass strip and should be about 71 NM away from the VORTAC (thus about 10 NM from my position), and I flew about 80-90 knots (NM per hour), giving me roughly 5-8 minutes until I should be in the vicinity of the field. I also knew that I had wood everywhere, so I really need to take care not to get too close to the ground. I also knew the rough direction of the target since I tried to follow the radial closely until the point when the signal vanished - my conclusion was that the airfield must be somewhere in front of me, before the next far mountains, but nothing to see yet. | ||